Youth Voter Turnout Rate Rose to 51.1 Percent, Third Highest Rate Ever: 2 Million More Young People Voted Than in 2004

The fact sheet on youth voter turnout and trends in 2008 and a 50-state breakdown can be downloaded here (PDF). The press release is here.

Tisch College, Tufts University – Nearly two million more young Americans under the age of 30 voted in the 2008 presidential elections as compared to the 2004 elections, according to new Census data analyzed and released by the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement (CIRCLE) at Tufts University’s Tisch College.

The increase is a continuation of the trend observed in the 2004 and 2006 elections. Youth turnout was 11 percentage points higher than in 1996, which was the low point after decades of decline. While young people increased their turnout significantly in 2008, older adults voted at lower rates than in 2004 and only slightly above their 2000 level.

Although overall youth turnout was high in the 2008 presidential election, there were important differences in turnout rates. Young African Americans posted the highest turnout rate ever observed for any racial or ethnic group of young Americans since 1972.

The gap in turnout by educational attainment remained large; voter turnout of young people without college experience was 36%, compared to a 62% rate among young people with college experience. (About half of the young adult population has some college experience.) There was also a significant gender gap in turnout: young women voted at a rate eight points above young men.

“We have now seen three consecutive presidential elections with substantial increases in youth turnout,” said CIRCLE Director Peter Levine. “We appear to have entered a new era of stronger youth engagement—also shown by high rates of volunteering and community service. But there are persistent gaps in engagement, with less advantaged youth still mostly left out. We must find ways to engage and expand civic opportunities for this cohort of young people.”

[...] an array of college students obsessed with the Obama “cool” factor turned out to vote (http://www.civicyouth.org/?p=339). After all, how many guys can boast a phone book full of millions of college-aged girls to text [...]

“According to CIRCLE’s calculation, the increase in youth votes accounts for at least 60% of the overall increase in the number of votes, suggesting that this year’s election mobilized young people more than any other age groups.”

“The gap in turnout by educational attainment remained large; voter turnout of young people without college experience was 36%, compared to a 62% rate among young people with college experience.” I see.

“Older adults voted at lower rates than in 2004″ that is really interesting considering it was one of the most important elections in recent history. It looks like the youth vote really made a difference.

This is really inspiring and shows that the young generation are getting back the faith on the overall government system. More and more of them are participating as they now truly believe that they can contribute in changes and good decisions. Its nice for the country.

the youth is increasingly becoming involved in being a part of the micro and macro political systems and finally employing their right of voice to decide who should lead and decide their future totally agree with you dude

Do you think social networking sites have increased the likelihood of a youth vote? It seems to me that these sites were employed to great effect by the campaigns and allowed youth to dabble in advocacy from the safety of their computers before going out and voting.

Young people are becoming more interested in politics because they have better education as to the effects that different candidates can have not only on the country as a whole but their direct employment prospects as a young person.

It was very refreshing to see that the youth voters did come out this election. The down side is, Obama’s high ratings are starting to slide. People are questioning what he has actually gotten accomplished so far.

high rates of volunteering and community service. But there are persistent gaps in engagement, with less advantaged youth still mostly left out. We must find ways to engage and expand civic opportunities for this cohort of young people.”

i agree with edinburgh. the private sectro should take a lead in increasing people’s awareness about what they can offer to society. the government should also be there to promote volunteerism at all age group

“Older adults voted at lower rates than in 2004″ that is really interesting considering it was one of the most important elections in recent history. It looks like the youth vote really made a difference.

I think it is possible, to some extent, that they youth vote was not relevant on this issue due to the inexperience or indifference of that voter segment to the amendment. If they did not express a preference at all, then the older vote would sway the outcome.

It feels great to know that the youth participated in an important event like this. This is a good sign that they are not just the happy-go-lucky youngsters – they care about the country and the government.

[...] increased youth advertising. Thanks to Hughes and the Obama “millennial campaign,” the 2008 vote increased to 51.1% in 2008, while older adults voted at lower rates. When told Yes We Can, their [...]

[...] the last presidential election, only about 62% of eligible Americans voted. Turnout among young people was even worse, although activist groups were excited that it was one of the highest youth turnouts in 30 [...]

[...] Millennial participation in that most basic of American rights and civic actions—voting—is also greater than for previous generations of young people. According to census data reported by CIRCLE, an organization that researches and influences youthful political participation, 49% of those 18-24 and 51% of those 18-29 voted in the 2008 presidential election. With one exception, this was the highest youth participation in any presidential election since 1972, when Democratic candidate, George McGovern targeted and won young people (if little else). It was well above the numbers in 1996 (36% for 18-24 year olds and 40% for 18-29 year olds) when the “youth vote” was entirely Gen-X. (http://www.civicyouth.org/new-census-data-confirm-increase-in-youth-voter-turnout-in-2008-election/) [...]

[...] also greater than for previous generations of young people. According to census data reported by CIRCLE, an organization that researches political participation by young people, 49% of those 18-24 and [...]

[...] Except it wasn't a historic thing. According to research from Tufts University's Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement, 48.5 percent of citizens 18 to 24 voted in 2008. In 2004, that number was 46.7 percent. In [...]

[...] as an accessible figure to his most important constituents: the American youth. As such, a reported 48.5% of registered voters between the ages of 18-24 turned out to vote in that election … while this was only a 2% increase from 2004 turnout rates, [...]

[...] College voters are a huge demographic in national elections and can have a huge effect on voter involvement, as we saw with the 2008 elections. In 2008, “nearly 2 million more young Americans under the age of 30” voted in the presidential election than in 2004, according to census data from The Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement. [...]

[...] experienced a youth movement that was unprecedented in the United States history. According to CIRCLE.com, the youth voter turnout rose 51.1 percent, which is the third highest rate ever. 2 million more [...]

[...] polls far less than older voters ever since being granted the vote by the 26th Amendment. Indeed, voter turnout among this age group was 51.1%, the highest it had been since 1992 when it reached 52.0%, although still not as high as the [...]

[...] to a report from the The Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement (CIRCLE), in 2008, youth voter turnout was at 48.5%, which is the third highest recorded turnout rate for [...]